Dressing seed composition



Patented Jan. 16, I951 DRESSING SEED COMPOSITION Frederick LawrenceSharp, Blackley, Manchester,

England, assignor to Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, a corporationof Great Britain No Drawing. Application December 9, 1947, Se-

rial No. 790,701'. In Great Britainpecember L This invention relates tonew seed dressing compositions and to their application.

It is known to treat seed with organic mercurial seed disinfectants forprotection against seedbome diseases, and it is also known to apply thegamma isomer of benzene hexachloride,(Berichte der deutschen chemischenGesellschaft, 45, 236, 1912) to soil for the protection of plantsagainst wireworms.

We have now found that gamma benzene hexachloride can be applied alongwith the organic mercurial seed disinfectants in dry pfulverulent seeddressing compositions, so as to effect both protections at once.

It was not to be expected that protection of the germinating and growingplant against wireworms could be effected by the application of gammabenzene hexachloride to the seed as a dressing, especially bearing inmind the very small uantities that can be applied in this way, since thwireworms are not associated with the seed as are the spores which areresponsible for the seed-borne diseases. I

By working according to our invention, economy 'is effected in the useof gamma benzene hexachloride and the need for a separate treatment forprotection against wireworms is geliminated. In dressing wheatgseed,protection against wireworms has been obtained by the use of gammabenzene hexachloride corresponding to only half an ounce per acre.

In some cases we find that the seed dressings also enhance growth.Protection may also be given against soil pests other thanswireworms,where these pests are present in sufiicient numbers to be harmful. V

In preparing the new. seed dressing compositions, proportions of gammabenzene hex-achloride as low as -10% have already been'found to beeffective in some trials. In other respects, e. g. in the proportions ofthe organic mercurial seed disinfectants, in the-natur of the inertdiluents and in the use, if desired, of anti-dusting agents, the seeddressing compositions maycorrespond to organic mercurial seed dressingcompositions. The new seed dressing compositions can also be applied inthe same ways as the old, and in the same proportions, e. g. 2 ouncesper bushel of seed in the case of wheat, i. e. about 0.2% by weight.

In making the compositions it is not essential to use gamma benzenehexachloride in chemically pure form. g

The following examples in which ,parts are by weight. illustrate. but.do not limit. the. invention.

5 Claims. (01. 167--38) Example 1 I r The following componentsfareintimately blended together: v, 1

15 parts of gamma benzene hexachloride 2 parts of phenylmercuriacetate 3parts of mineral oil and parts of china clay This seed dressing isapplied to oat seed in a suitable seed dresser at: the rate of 2 /2ounces per bushel. The so treated seed is then sown and will be found togerminate and develop satisfactorily even where the soil contains a highwireworm population and the cat seed was infected with leaf stripe(Helminthosporium avenue). f 7

Example 2 The following components are well mixed together:

20 parts of gamma benzene hexachloride 1.5 parts ofethylmercuriphosphate 3 parts of mineral oil 75.5 parts of china clayThe resulting seed dressing is applied to wheat seed in a suitable seeddressing machine at the rate of 2 ounces per bushel, i. e. about 0.2% byweight.

The dressed seed on sowing will eventually give satisfactory yields ofgrain despite the presence of seed borne disease, e; g. bunt spores(Tilletia caries) on the seed and wireworms and any other harmful pestsin the soil.

Emample 3 .The following components blended together: e

15 parts of gamma benzene hexachloride 1 part of phenylmercuriacetate0.5 part of ethylmercurichloride 2 parts of mineral oil 1 81.5 parts offinely ground talc are intimately The above dressing is applied to wheatat the rate of ounce per bushel, i. e. about 0.05% by weight, to controlthe effect of bunt (Tilletia caries) and of wireworms and other soilpests.

I claim: 5

1. Dry ;pu1verulente seed dressing: compositions comprising gammabenzene hex'achlcriflee andi an organic mercurial seed disinfectant.

2. Dry pulverulent seed dressing compositions"x comprising gamma benzenehexachloride, an or- 10 ganic mercurial seed disinfectant, and acNumber" pulverulent inert diluent. v L,7.'7.0,886 3. Dry pulverulentseed dnessingacomgesitions 1,780,008?

ganic mercurial seed disinfectant, and an anti.- i5' 1,920,009 dustingagent, mineral oil. r 4. Dry pulverulent seed dressing compdsitions1,969,857 comprising gamma benzene hexachloride, an or- 2,109,143 ganicmercurial seed disinfectant, a drylipulizer fi r V ulent inert diluentandian anti-dusting agent, 20 mineral oil. 1 V =5; Aldry pulverulentseeddressingcemposition 5362691 comprising l5-60 parts byweightoflgammabem- 4142 zene hexachloride, 1.5-2 parts by weight of anorganic mercurial seed disinfectant, 2-3 parts by weight of mineral oil,and 30-815 parts by weight of a dry pulverulent inert diluent.

5 FREDERICK LAWRENCE SHARP.

REEERENCESr CITED l'I lie fbllowingreferencesare of: record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kharasch July 15, 1930, Engelmann Oct.28, 1930 Engelmann July 25, 1933 Engelmann July 25, 1933 Feb. 20, 1934Shegss Aug. 14, 1934 Wolff Feb. 22, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Cnuntry.GreatBritain Mar..2,7,,lili'l GreatiBritain of. 19.46

1. DRY PULVERULENT SEED DRESSING COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING GAMMA BENZENEHEXACHLORIDE AND AN ORGANIC MERCURIAL SEED DISINFECTANT.